Boat propulsion.



.PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

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Wim/55555 rnvrrn srafrns ATENT FIQE HARRY E. GRACE, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS F. FITZBERGER, JR.,

OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOAT PROPULSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteoi Maron 26, 1907'.

Application filed February 13, 1906. Serial No. 300,904.

T0 @ZZ whom, il? 77u51/ concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. GRACE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Boat Propulsion, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to boat-propelling mechanism, the object of theinvention being to provide novel mechanism for propelling boatsembodying a water-flume or passageway which extends through the hull ofthe boat fore and aft, receiving the water-supply adjacent to the bow ofthe boat and conducting the same to a housed propeller contained withinthe fiume or passage-way, the propelling mechanism also embodying anexternally-arranged propeller mounted in the usual place in rear of thestern-post.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the endsof the flume may be closed and the waterv ejected therefrom so thatrepairs may be made within the interior of the flume or passage-waywithout putting the boat in dry-dock.

Wvith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of theboat-propelling mechanism, the hull of the boat being indicated indotted lines. 'Fig 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through thesame, showing also a portion of the hull ofthe boat in sectionalelevation.

In carrying out the present invention a flume or passage-way is providedextending fore and aft through the hull of the boat, as shown in thedrawings, said fiume being preferably constructed of tubular sheetmetalmembers and comprising a midship section 1 and starboard and port forks2 and 3, respectively, the starboard and port forks merging into andconnecting with the midship section by means of a crown or bifurcatedunion 4.

The entire fiume, including the midshipsection and the starboard andport forks, is made up of a plurality of members or sections flanged andcoupled together at various points, as shown at 5. The forward ends ofthe forks 2 and 3 are provided with gatehousings 6, which are set intothe forward planking of the boat on opposite sides of the bow and fiushwith the outer surface or skin of the boat, as shown in Fig. 1, andwithin such housings are arrangedy starboard and port gates 7 and 8,respectively. Normally the gates 7 and 8 are open, so as to admit waterfreely to the fiume g but when it is desired to get access to theoperative parts of the mechanism contained in the flume the gates 7 and8 may be closed.

Adjacent to the rear end of the midshipsection 1 of the fiume isarranged another gate, which is divided to form twin members or sections9, the same being slidingly fitted and movable horizontally withinhousings 10, extending laterally from opposite sides of the flume, asshown in Fig. 1. The gatesections are provided with outwardly-projectingstems 11, by means of which they may be drawn outward or pushed inward,and the meeting edges of the gate-sections 9 are notched or cut out tofit around the propeller-shaft 1,2. The fore and aft gates 7, 8, and 9provide for closing the ends of the flume or passage-way, thus enablinga mechanic to get into the fiume through a manhole-cover 13 in one sidethereof for the purpose of making any necessary repairs or removing anygrass or other substance with which the flume may become choked.

The propeller-shaft 12. extends centrally through and longitudinallywithin the midship-section 1 of the flume, being mounted in suitablebearings 14 and 15, the latter being arranged at or near the rear end ofthe flume and supported by a suitable s ider16. At its forward end thepropellers aft is connected with the engine-shaft 17, which is shown aslocated between the starboard and port forks 2 and 3. At a suitablepoint within the midship-section 1 of the fiume a screw-propeller 18 ismounted fast on the shaft 12, and another stern-propeller 19 is mountedon the after end of the propellershaft beyond or in rear of thestern-post of the hull, as shown in the drawings. 20 designates adrain-port in the bottom of the fiume for completely draining out anywater that may remain in the flume after closing the gates.

The Water passing into the forward ends of the forks 2 and 3 of theflume is brought together into the midship-section of the fiume,

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where it is acted upon by the internally-arranged propeller 18 andforced outward through the rear end of the lluine, where it is againcaught and acted upon by the sternpropeller 19, the latter alsoreceiving an additional supply of water from opposite sides of the keelor skeg in the usual way.

When it is desired to obtain access to the interior of the flume, theforward ends 7 and 8 are first closed, and the propellers are operatedlong enough to exhaust the water from the flume and eject the saineoutward froin the rear end thereof, whereupon the after gate is closed.The manhole-cover 13 may then be taken off and repairs inade within theflume without placing the boat in drydoek.

I clain1- A boat having a water llurne or passageway extending fore andaft therethrough and having the forward portion of said flume branchedto form starboard and port forks which open out through the bow of theboat and leave an intervening engine-space closures for the forward andrear ends of the Hume and branches thereof, a propeller-shaft extendingthrough the stern portion of the flume, and a plurality of propellersmounted on said shaft, one operating within the flume and the other inrear of the discharge end of the flume the rear closure being locatedbetween said propellers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. GRACE.

